A chill ran down her spine. Charlotte’s normally beautiful appearance was now cloaked in darkness, looking eerie.

“What do you mean by ‘real’…!”

She tried to push Charlotte away, but couldn’t budge at all. The strength emanating from her slender body was unimaginable.

[What’s going on?]

The brief commotion roused Dante, who had been sleeping in the corner. The young dragon abruptly woke up, sensing the strange atmosphere, and quickly stepped in front of Yerpi.

[Stay away from Yerpi.]

Charlotte tilted her head. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, swaying gently. It was an uncanny beauty.

The moment she thought that, Charlotte raised her hand. At the same instant, Yerpi pushed her away with all her strength.

“What are you doing?!”

Clang!

During the struggle, a decorative porcelain vase fell to the floor.

The loud crash of the shattered ceramic echoed down the corridor, waking even the maids sleeping in nearby rooms.

“Oh my goodness! Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Please step aside for a moment. The shards are sharp, so be careful.”

Pepe and Erka hurried in and began cleaning up the broken pieces.

Led by Pepe, Charlotte sat on the bed, stared blankly ahead, and soon fell asleep.

That night’s disturbance thus came to a temporary end.

The next morning. Charlotte woke up as if nothing had happened, confused by the stiff, uneasy glances around her.

They were having breakfast together when Yerpi put down her spoon and asked her.

“Charlotte, do you remember anything from last night?”

“…Hmm? What did I do?”

Her questioning look suggested she sensed something was off.

But she clearly had no solid memory. After hearing the account of the previous night, Charlotte wore a visibly shocked expression.

“I guess I’ve been too stressed at the temple lately. I started sleepwalking back when I was a Saintess candidate. I thought it had gotten better recently, but maybe not.”

At first, it was just getting up and wandering around her room while asleep. Later, she was even caught walking down the corridor by other clerics.

But nothing more serious had occurred, so no special measures were taken. After all, sleepwalking wasn’t a condition with a clear-cut solution.

[I don’t like that woman!]

Dante, who had shared the bedroom the previous night, arched his back at the sight of Charlotte. The young dragon bristled his fur, and Charlotte blinked in surprise.

“Oh my. Did you see it too?”

[Of course I did. She tried to hit me!]

“You? I’ve never hit anyone before.”

Dante recoiled in disgust at her innocent expression, as if she were hearing such a thing for the first time. And perhaps it was true.

If something annoyed Charlotte, those around her would have already removed the source before her hand even rose.

The incident from the previous night became nothing more than a simple episode caused by sleepwalking.

But after that, Charlotte’s odd behavior continued.

It wasn’t just about sleepwalking anymore. Wherever Yerpi went, whatever she did, Charlotte followed her.

Even in front of Raymond, she would tear through the castle claiming she wanted to stay with her sister.

For instance, even when Yerpi entered Raymond’s bedroom to commune with him.

“I don’t really understand what ‘communing’ means, but can’t I stay by your side too? I feel uneasy when I’m apart from you, sister.”

In truth, there was no major issue with her staying nearby. But Raymond defined the act of communion with a single sentence.

“Do you have a hobby of spying on your sister and her husband’s private moments?”

Saying so, Raymond wrapped his arm around Yerpi’s waist. The two entered together, and the door closed behind them.

The Duke’s bedroom was quiet. Though she had only lived with Charlotte for a week, just being apart from her brought a sense of liberation.

“What a clingy woman. Why is she so obsessed with you?”

Raymond frowned. His patience, worn thin from having his time with Yerpi constantly interrupted, was reaching its limit.

“I don’t really know either. She never used to follow me around like this.”

“She seems like the type who can’t bear being apart from someone she’s attached to.”

“Still, she promised to return before the grace period ends.”

The reason Raymond was tolerating this was because Yerpi had secured Charlotte’s promise to leave.

Although that promise came with the condition “if she doesn’t find someone she loves,” Yerpi chose not to mention that part.

“You’re not going to take your sister’s side again, are you?”

“Not at all. I just want to treat her kindly until she leaves.”

He gave her a look of disbelief. Watching Yerpi smile silently, Raymond suppressed his inner thoughts with a sigh.

“Then do as you wish, my lady.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

Now, she no longer felt ashamed that Raymond knew her past. Still, she had no intention of being swayed by Charlotte, as he had feared.

There were too many things bothering her. But she didn’t yet have answers.

Yerpi took his hand. With their touching warmth, communion began.

‘Strange.’

The inner universe was clean. It was odd—despite clearly having used dragon blood energy frequently, her mind remained uncorrupted.

She tried to let go. But before she could, her arm was pulled.

Drawn into his embrace, she could hear his heartbeat.

Her body trembled as her temperature rose with his breath.

“Are we going back right away?”

“…Can I stay a little longer?”

The memory of their kiss on a summer night was vivid. Heat flared where her lips had touched his collar.

Just as their eyes met, burning with heat, accompanied by the quiet pulsing in the still bedroom—

[Yerpi!]

—until Dante flew in through the open window and pushed between them.

Raymond rubbed his forehead at the sight of Dante instantly cradled in Yerpi’s arms.

“…Dante.”

[That woman’s gone, right? I really hate her. Why is she so obsessed with Yerpi? Isn’t she completely crazy?]

Dante vented his frustration directly to Yerpi, seemingly ignoring Raymond altogether. It was true that she hadn’t been able to pay much attention to Dante lately because of Charlotte.

“You must have been really upset.”

Holding him and soothing him gently, she saw his pouting mouth slowly relax.

Hmph, turning his head, Dante soon began chattering excitedly about all the good things he’d done.

[I studied hard in lessons and read many books too.]

“Yes, yes. Good job. Our Dante.”

Apparently satisfied with the cuddling, Dante grinned happily. Seeing the child’s smile, she leaned in and kissed his cheek—just as she felt someone’s gaze.

“Has Your Grace also been diligently protecting the domain?”

“…You’re taking the joke too far.”

But he didn’t look displeased. In fact, that expression seemed rather endearing.

Yerpi rose onto her toes, leaned on his shoulder, and lightly kissed Raymond’s cheek.

“Shall we all play a game together again for the first time in a while?”

She smiled brightly, and Raymond’s pupils flickered. He silently nodded. At that, Yerpi smiled again.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve felt this good.’

The two adults and the young dragon happily enjoyed a board game together. For the first time since meeting Charlotte, their bodies felt relaxed, free of tension.

As if to prove it, the sunlight embracing Growen Castle was unusually bright and warm that day.

They were so engrossed in the game that soon it was time for Dante’s afternoon class.

Though usually diligent about attending, today the child stubbornly insisted on finishing the game with Raymond.

“Just today. I’ll tell the professor later, so wait a little longer.”

[Really? I’m so excited!]

The thrill of this first taste of rebellion was indeed exhilarating.

Dante became fully absorbed in the match against Raymond.

Of course, Raymond was letting him win, but to Dante, it felt like a tense, decisive battle.

Yerpi turned away from the two men locked in their match and approached the door. As soon as she opened it, she saw none other than Charlotte standing there.

“Charlotte?”

She nearly cried out in surprise.

‘What is she doing here?’

No—more importantly, how long had she been standing outside the door? Could it be…

They had entered the bedroom at noon. It was now three hours later.

Could she have been standing here the entire time?

Charlotte’s personality made that seem unlikely. Her expression, facing Yerpi, was clear and bright.

“What are you doing here?”

Yerpi asked, but Charlotte didn’t answer. Her gaze was fixed beyond the doorway.

“How harmonious and lovely they look.”

Inside the room, Dante and Raymond were deep in their match. The scene almost resembled a tender father and son. Watching them, Charlotte spoke.

“I think His Grace probably dislikes me.”

“No, that’s not it. Let’s go back first.”

Taking Charlotte’s hand and leading her down the corridor, Yerpi felt a cold, lifeless temperature.

Had she really been standing in the corridor the entire time?

The contrast was striking—the unimaginable scene versus her composed, untroubled face showing no sign of hardship.

The memory of Charlotte’s sleepwalking episode from the previous night resurfaced, sending a brief shiver down her spine.

Yet, unlike what Yerpi expected, Charlotte obediently returned to her guest room like a well-behaved younger sister.

The problem arose that night.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?!”

A woman was thrown out of the Duke’s bedroom, her voice filled with rage. Startled servants gathered in the corridor due to the midnight disturbance.

Yerpi was among them. She hadn’t imagined it would come to this.

Not until she saw Charlotte—slumped on the floor, having collided with the corridor wall.